NASCAR's Carl Edwards Joins Race to End Deaths From Malaria

Edwards Invites Fans to "Ride Along" as He Learns about Killer Disease and What Americans Can Do to Help

NEW YORK, July 29, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- NASCAR Nationwide Series Champion and driver of the No. 99 Aflac Ford in the Sprint Cup Series, Carl Edwards is partnering with nonprofit organization Malaria No More to join the race to end malaria deaths. The announcement comes just in time for Edwards to take to the track this Sunday, July 31, at Indianapolis Motor Speedway, a stadium that seats approximately 257,000 — only a third of the 781,000 people who die from malaria each year.

A former substitute teacher, Edwards is spending the remainder of this NASCAR season learning about malaria in advance of a planned trip to Africa with Malaria No More this winter. The "Ride Along With Carl" campaign will allow Edwards and his fans to learn about this deadly but preventable disease.

"I recently learned that malaria used to be a huge problem in the United States, including in my home state of Missouri. But we solved it here and now America is leading the race to end malaria deaths around the world," said Edwards. "I invite my fans to 'Ride Along' with me and see how they can help."

Fans will be able to submit their malaria questions to Malaria No More as Edwards discusses the issue with leading experts in the malaria fight.

To launch the partnership, Edwards released a public service announcement inviting fans to donate a life-saving $10 mosquito net to a family in Africa. "I have two young children at home. It's unacceptable that anyone should lose their children from a mosquito bite," says Edwards. "Malaria still kills a child every 45 seconds, but simple tools like a $10 mosquito net can change that."

Carl Edwards is an American NASCAR Sprint Cup Series and Nationwide Series racecar driver. He currently drives the No. 99 Aflac Ford in the Sprint Cup Series and the No. 60 Fastenal Ford in the Nationwide Series for Roush Fenway Racing. In 2007, he was the NASCAR Nationwide Series champion.

About Malaria No More

Malaria No More is determined to end malaria deaths in Africa by 2015 – and we're helping the world get it done. Malaria No More leverages high-impact communications to engage the world, global advocacy to rally leadership and strategic investments to accelerate progress. For more information, visit www.MalariaNoMore.org, read our Buzzwords blog, fan our Facebook page and follow us on Twitter.